September 11-13, 2026
18 Woodlands Way, Circleville WV
The 7th Annual Mountain State Overland Adventure X Fest presented by OK4WD is an adventure basecamp festival is presented by Mountain State Overland. We provide the space for you to camp and celebrate the adventures you take while exploring the natural spaces that surround the event. We host music, local food, games experiences and a whole lot of good vibes.
More than camping…
AXF takes place at Experience Learning in Circleville, WV located on a 400 acre section of private property near Spruce Knob - West Virginia’s highest peak.
The Mountain State Overland team has been visiting Experience Learning (formerly The Mountain Institute) since the late 1990s and they’re very excited to be sharing this location with you again in 2026.
Come and explore on your own or join our guides for some unique adventures this year at AXF. Choose between caving, orienteering, and overlanding outings or stay on site and relax with a professional massage from Appalachian Wellness Massage while the kids are enjoying crafts and games at Event HQ - the options are endless at Adventure X Fest.
Celebrate adventure with evening Happy Hour Games, enjoy live music nightly performed by Trevor Thomas and if you’re feeling groovy, grab the mic for Saturday Night Karaoke. Mountain Table will be serving beverages nightly at Event HQ.
It takes a crew of hard working folks to make it all happen. This year we’ll have a few volunteer spots reserved to help with AXF and we’re looking for several more to help with our annual Tread Lightly project.
AXF will be hosting Mountain Table roasted coffee, drinks and food catering again for 2026. Alex and Nadine will be preparing locally raised and sustainable meals, brewing coffee, and serving adult beverages and spirits.
Food will be available for purchase from Friday through Sunday morning with the NEW! addition of lunch on Saturday.
That’s right, we’re camping and we have options. Choose between our North and South General Camping fields, or maybe opt to be closer to the entertainment this year at our NEW! HQ Camping.
Not up for staying in a tent? No problem, choose the Yurt Experience and stay in stick-built yurt tucked deep in the woods.
Get the shirt…
What’s new…
GUIDED OVERLAND TOUR
Join a trail guide from MSO for an overlanding tour of local roads and historical destinations in the surrounding area.
To sign up, visit Event HQ at AXF. This experience is limited to 5 guest vehicles. Registered guests will meet at Event HQ at 8AM on Saturday morning, return by 2PM and this outing requires you driving your own vehicle. Please tip your experienced guides for their time.
This is a novice level overland tour suited for stock and modified vehicles. AWD and 4WD recommended.
Self-guided tours are also available. Reference you FREE digital PDF overland maps courtesy iADV.info and plan your own adventures in the area.
More questions? Email AXF Staff.
HQ CAMPING
Get closer to the entertainment and event activities this year with HQ Camping. Camp next to the Event HQ in a dedicated green space near the lower community fire location. Only 6 sites available. Trailers are not permitted.
CAVING
Join the staff from Experience Learning for a Guided Caving excursion.
To sign up, visit Event HQ during AXF. This experience is limited to 20 guests. Registered guests will meet at Event HQ at 8AM on Saturday morning, return by 2PM and this outing includes transportation. Please tip your experienced guides for their time and transportation.
All guests must be able to move across uneven, muddy and slippery terrain in the dark and navigate in up to 3' of water for up to 2 miles. Limited to ages 8 and older. It is recommended that you bring adequate water for hydration and wear clothing that can get muddy. Accompanying adults are not required but must acknowledge separate waivers for youth under 18 years old.
More questions? Email AXF Staff.
ORIENTEERING
Learn to navigate via compass and map for guided orienteering with staff from Experience Learning.
To sign up, visit Event HQ at AXF. This experience is limited to 10 guests. Registered guests will meet at Event HQ at 8AM on Saturday morning and return by 2PM. Please tip your experienced guides for their time.
All guests should be comfortable hiking uneven terrain on ascents and downhill for up to 5 miles. Proper hiking footwear is required and it is recommended that you bring adequate water for hydration. Limited to ages 8 and older. Accompanying adults are not required but must acknowledge separate waivers for youth.
More questions? Email AXF Staff.
BIG RAFFLE + FAREWELL
One Big Raffle on one night! Join us as we give away a bunch of prizes from our MSO partners on Saturday evening 8PM at the Event HQ along with our Best Of Awards presentation.
And that’s not all, join us for the Sunday Farewell and we’ll give away two (2) 2027 MSO Guided Trips and two (2) 2027 AXF Camping Passes on Sunday morning 8AM at Event HQ.
Raffle tickets are eligible for Big Raffle and Sunday Farewell and will be issued at event check-in. One ticket per registered AXF guest and one ticket per passenger. Extra tickets will not be available for purchase.
CAMP CHAIR RACE
Try your chance at the Camp Chair Race! Compete against teams of two race to setup and breakdown Helinox camp chairs. Team donations of $10 (cash only) will benefit Experience Learning and the winning team will take home two (2) Helinox camp chairs.
This will be a single elimination tournament. All ages welcome and there will be 15 second delay per team member over the age of 12 years. To sign up, visit Event HQ during AXF. The competition will be held during Happy Hour on Friday.
TL! TOILET TOSS
Test your cornhole skills on the TL! Toilet Toss. Individuals will compete at throwing bean bags into a toilet for a chance to win a Wrappon Camp Toilet. Individual donations of $10 (cash only) for 5 tosses will benefit Tread Lightly.
This will be a single elimination tournament with no buy-ins after the first elimination is complete. All ages welcome. Adults will toss from 30 feet and kids under 12 will toss from 15 feet. To sign up, visit Event HQ during AXF. The competition will be held during Happy Hour on Saturday.
KIDS ACTIVITIES
Over 33% of our guests last year were kids and teenagers and we had some great feedback on our Kids Activities.
On Saturday 3-5PM at Event HQ, our event volunteers will lead our younger guests through a series of fun and engaging activities like crafts, games and more. All ages are welcome and parents are encouraged to participate and monitor as desired.
BEST OF AWARDS
The Best of Awards are back for 2026 with prizes courtesy of Blue Ridge Overland Gear.
The vehicle awards will consist of: Best in Show is judged on the thoughtfulness, tidiness and purpose of the build, Best Vintage is judged on vehicle age in conjunction with functionality and restoration efforts, and Best Equipped is judged on overall adventure and/or trail readiness.
The winners will be announced on Saturday night 8PM at the Event HQ as part of the Big Raffle.
presented by
September 11-13, 2026
18 Woodlands Way, Circleville WV
About us
THE SPONSOR
Mountain State Overland (MSO) is a team of passionate adventure travelers that have filmed over 100,000 miles of vehicle-based adventures since its inception in West Virginia, i.e. the “Mountain State”, in 2013.
They build video and craft the experience with the end goal - influence others to follow in their footsteps. Whether they’re powering across the country on the Trans-America Trail or leading new adventures in the Appalachian Mountains, their team is dedicated to producing the best experience on video and in-person.
Watch MSO on YouTube.
Learn more about Mountain State Overland.
THE HOST
Experience Learning was born on Spruce Knob in 1972 as the Woodlands Institute, which later became The Mountain Institute. Their Appalachian Programs at Spruce Knob Mountain Center and in nearby communities were part of the larger story of conserving mountain environments, creating more sustainable livelihoods, and protecting unique mountain cultures on three continents.
In March 2017, the Appalachian Programs became a separate nonprofit organization, Experience Learning. This is an exciting new world of opportunity for West Virginia, the mountains and waters, and the people they serve throughout the Eastern U.S. As Experience Learning, they can be entirely focused on serving the needs of their students and their parents, their teachers and the community.
Take a virtual tour of Experience Learning Spruce Knob Mountain Center.
Learn more about Experience Learning.
THE CATERER
Mountain Table is a small restaurant andcoffee roaster located in Renick, WV.
Their focus is to provide organically grown, and fairly traded products that are in 100% compostable packaging. Since 2008 they have been carbon neutral and are dedicated to sourcing coffee and local foods with social responsibility and the environment in mind
Mountain Table is 60% women owned and operated and they offer Tuesday themed dinners and Sunday brunches throughout the year.
Learn more about Mountain Table.
September 11-13, 2026
18 Woodlands Way, Circleville WV
FAQs
Where and when is AXF?
AXF is located on the property of Experience Learning in Circleville, WV on the Spruce Knob Mountain Center campus. The campus is a 400 acre section of private property located on the shoulder of Spruce Knob, West Virginia’s highest peak.
Our event team decided to move locations to diversify the experience of Adventure X Fest. We are excited to offer this new location as an option for you to explore new spaces in the Appalachian Mountains.
Gates open Friday, September 11 @ 11:00AM.
Gates close Sunday, September 13 @ 12:00PM.
GPS 38.67351067798363, -79.56951321044133
What do I do at AXF?
It’s pretty simple. You come, camp, visit and explore with your new friends during the day. If you’d rather stay on-site, take part in our event activities and guided experiences. Make sure you’re back in time for Happy Hour and festivities each evening.
Feel free to walk, run, and bike the property, exploring the many miles of cut paths as you wish.
Bring your bike and use it to ride around the campus and access the event headquarters and bathroom facilities. There are also plenty of local trails and gravel roads to ride.
Email AXF Staff for recommended destinations and adventures to help plan your weekend.
What does my pass include?
Your event pass gives you and all of your passengers access to camp at Adventure X Fest from Friday, when the gates open, through Sunday, when the gates close. You will receive a sticker, a raffle ticket (for each person in your vehicle), a patch, a digital PDF map of overland routes and two (2) “Happy Hour” beverage tickets when you arrive at the event. These items will not be shipped in the event you cancel attendance.
Food and beverages (with exception to your “Happy Hour” beverage tickets) are not included with your registration and can be purchased at Event HQ from Mountain Table.
You can buy as many passes as you’d like but just remember, the pass covers the vehicle and all of its passengers.
What are the campsites like?
Camping at AXF is limited to General Camping North and South fields above Event HQ and HQ Camping is located near Event HQ.
General Camping is located less than 0.1 mile from the venue headquarters and facilities. HQ Camping is in a grass lawn area next to Event HQ.
You will be camping on grass and it is advised that you use 4WD when driving in these fields. Driving to the bath house and Event HQ is not permitted; however, walking paths and roads are marked and welcome foot and bicycle traffic.
Campsites are not marked but we do ask that you be courteous and try to maintain your footprint to allow other campers options for setting around you. We recommend you bring leveling blocks with you as the terrain varies between both of the fields.
Offroad and pull-type adventure trailers are permitted; however, there are no hookups for power or waste disposal. Fifth wheel campers are not permitted. If you’re planning to bring a pull-type trailer, please contact the event team in advance to be sure we can accommodate you.
Will there be bathrooms and showers?
Yes, bathrooms and showers are provided on site near the event headquarters. Additionally, we will have portable toilets onsite for use. Please DO NOT use the bathroom outside of these locations as we are trying to manage our impacts on this beautiful and wild space.
Is there cell service on site?
Cell service may be available but is limited on the property. Beyond the venue, cell service is non-existent and limited at best. If you have satellite comms and internet devices, you will have a very clear view of the sky and likely have a good experiences using those tools. WIFI is available per request at the Event HQ.
How many people come?
Since we started AXF 7 years ago we’ve capped attendance at just 100 trucks. We feel its more important to preserve the feel of a small community based event because there are so many options out there for big shows now.
Including all passengers, we typically average 150-175 guests and about 15-20 volunteers and staff.
Will there be food?
Catered food will be available for purchase on Friday for dinner, Saturday breakfast, lunch and dinner and Sunday for breakfast. There will be vegetarian options and all goods are grown and prepped locally in Renick, WV by Mountain Table.
Breakfast is served from 7-9AM, lunch is served from 12-3PM and dinner is served from 6-8PM
The bar is open throughout each day and “Happy Hour“ (FREE drinks w/ “Happy Hour” tickets) runs from 5-6PM. Adult beverages served include beers from WV breweries and cocktails crafted by Mountain Table. Additionally, we will have mountain spring water, seltzers, and brewed iced tea are available as an alternative.
Food and beverage services will be located at Event HQ and meals will be single-serve buffet style assisted by our team of volunteers. Lunch on Saturday is made-to-order and will be served individually.
Our coffee for Adventure X Fest is organically grown, imported, roasted and brewed by Mountain Table in Renick, WV.
Will there be fires?
Wood fires are not permitted in the camping area. There will be an event campfire in a designated area just off the porch at event headquarters. Above ground gas-controlled fireplaces are permitted in the camping area at your individual campsite; however, you must have a fire mat underneath your fireplace to prevent scaring the earth and natural vegetation.
Will there be music?
Yes, we’ll have music playing on the deck of the event headquarters 5-8 PM nightly by Trevor Thomas and followed by curated playlists. If you’re feeling groovy, we may even challenge you to a bit of karaoke.
Will there be maps?
Included in with your event registration are FREE digital PDF maps from iADV.info. The iADV maps we provide outlines 3 popular overland tracks in the area that we highly recommend exploring.
Additionally, Purple Lizard Maps will be available for purchase at Event HQ to provide you an alternative for exploring the surrounding area.
Need to cancel?
Cancellations are permitted up to 30 days before the event for a full refund. If you are within 30 days of the event and still wish to cancel we encourage you to share you AXF Camping Pass with a friend or family member.
Will there be training?
Not so much training, but more guided experiences. Our team and staff will be guided limited excursions on Saturday. Activities include caving, orienteering and overlanding. Spots for these excursions are extremely limited and are available first-come first-serve. To register, visit the Event HQ to sign up.
Are pets allowed?
Yes, animals are permitted on-site and must be leashed at all times. You are responsible for your pet at all times and required to pick up your pets waste and properly dispose of it.
Do you need volunteers?
Yes, we couldn’t do this without some help. We’re looking for volunteers to help out this year with setup, takedown, and general help around the event. If interested, you can choose Volunteer Camping when you register.
Email AXF Staff if you have more questions about volunteering at Adventure X Fest.
Do I need 4WD to attend?
We do recommend you have a 4WD vehicle to access the event so that we can manage our impact on the natural surfaces at the event should weather become unfavorable.
The driveway into the event is very rough at times and we don’t advise attempting the drive into the venue using a low clearance vehicle.
Will there be gear to buy?
Yes, we’ll have limited merchandise and apparel from MSO and MSO partners, AXF apparel, and Purple Lizard maps. Otherwise, this event is centered around community and celebrating adventure so your options for purchasing gear will be limited.
Can I have visitors for the day?
No, visitors are not permitted unless they purchase an event pass.
September 11-13, 2026
18 Woodlands Way, Circleville WV